Question to moms and soon to be’s

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briae9716 wrote:

Hey moms , I’m a breastfeeding counselor. I’m just getting into my job and just need other people’s opinions about breastfeeding. I am still breastfeeding my toddler(16 months) and I plan on breastfeeding all of my children. I’ve noticed a lot of people my age, I’m 21 years old, are really against nursing their child. My question is, why do/did you choose to or Not to breastfeed? Trying to get a better understanding.

I’m pregnant with my first but I plan to breastfeed for many reasons. Mostly the health benefits- but let’s not forget it saves money on formula, is binding with the child & if my boobs are going to hurt regardless then why not? I think there is a stigma against it in younger ages and I think some people will always be kinda grossed out of it- but to each their own. I believe is breast feeding feels right- do it! If formula feeding feels right- do it! I am going to try breastfeeding and if it doesn’t work I have no problems switching.

I breastfed my daughter till she was 2.5 because I had been tandem nursing her and my son for a year and it was getting to be too much. I’ll still nurse my son (almost 2.5 years old) when he asks for it but I think it’s safe to say he’s done 🤞🏻🤞🏻 I’m 15 weeks prego and plan on nursing this one too. I also produce SO MUCH and I couldn’t imagine not nursing my kids but I understand everyone is different. For me, nursing was easy and I never had issues with the baby having trouble so of course I couldn’t pass up providing for my children the way some moms can’t.

wow I'm so surprised. I am 33 and I breastfed my 14 month boy until recently and I think it was the best thing I did. The cost of formula and health benefits of breastfeeding influenced me to breastfeed as long as I did and will breastfeed my second too. Yes it was hard in the beginning when he was feeding every 2 hours but I loved the bond he and I shared.

Everyone in my family was breastfed and breastfed their children- my grandma was a founding member of my hometown’s le leche league back in the early 60s. I grew up with aunts openly nursing my cousins, etc. Almost all of my friends, who had their kiddos before me, also chose to nurse and most for an extended length of time, well past the first year (I’m 34, if you’re looking for age reference). For me, there was really never any question in my mind that I wasn’t going to give breastfeeding my best shot. Fortunately, my son and I were able to get the hang of things quickly and easily, and I went on to nurse him for a little over 2 1/2 years. I’m taking the same mindset with this new baby and hoping we’ll be able to have a similar experience.

I breastfed my son for the first year and plan to breastfeed again, hopefully longer this time. My sister in law never breastfed her two kids because it’s “weird”, not sure what that means but to each their own. My sister tried hard her second time but my niece they labeled a lazy feeder, but I think my sister found it stressful so was having let down and supply issues. Two of my close friends gave up within the first 3-4 weeks. I think it’s common to be exhausted and breastfeeding can be hard and very demanding in the beginning. I think it’s absolutely worth it.

I try to be as close to what nature intended as much as possible, while accepting all of scientific developments (I vaccinate and medicate if needed for example and know there is a time and place for bottle feeding). I know our bodies are intended to breastfeed and it’s what is best if possible. Unfortunately there is not enough information, or support for women to breastfeed.

I am a ftm and plan to breastfeed, but several family members used formula. Some because they said they didn’t produce enough milk, had difficulty with the baby latching correctly, or it was too painful. Others did it because they were going back to work and found it easier to use formula. I’m sure there are other factors aside from the above, but those are some I have heard.

I gave up after two weeks with my son. He never latched properly (even with help from professionals), my nipples were cracked and bleeding, I was so depressed because my son was only losing weight even though I was feeding him all day. I pumped for a bit but I wasn’t producing much milk either.

Simple it was too painful to breastfeed. Idc what other moms say I could not handle the pain and my tolerance for pain is high. When my daughter latched on I passed out. I have very sensitive nipples. Then I pumped for 3 weeks and could not get much milk. Maybe an 1 ounce for 20 whole minutes. This got extremely frustrating and I finally gave up for my own mental health. I went into such a dark depression. Some women cannot breastfeed and that’s okay. I understand the importance of it but when you can’t you just can’t.

I breast fed my son until 35 months. He did not want to give it up lol.

At first I had lots of issues- engorgment, mastitis (multiple times), oversupply, I had to give up certain foods...didn’t think I would make it past 6 months, but I kept just making small goals for myself.

I’m glad I never gave up, though it would have been much easier to do so.

I believe the benefits of breast feeding are too great not to do it. I’ve done tons of research because of health issues my husband has. I’ve read many studies, and information gathered by different scientists about the components of breast milk, not breast feeding being linked to an increase in auto immune diseases, it’s relationship to establishing a healthy gut microbiome and immune system. There are just so many things that will never be able to be synthesized with a formula, breast milk is alive.

I feel there are legitimately people who are unable to breast feed, and for them formula is a god send.

I’m 24 and breastfed my first for 15 months and plan to do the same for this one. Honestly I wanted to do it at first so that I could say that I did, plus formula is soooo expensive. My family was semi against it and made me feel like I needed to hide anytime I needed to feed my daughter. My husbands family was even worse about it. But after a couple of months I just told them she was hungry and I wasn’t missing half the party because they were embarrassed. I used a cover around them all and they got used to it. My small group of Mom friends includes myself and 3 other moms, we all just got together this past Saturday and they all 3 were breastfeeding, supporting each other, giving tips, and making jokes about how it’s just so normal to do in the group now we don’t even pay attention. Our husbands find out we are hanging out together and start making jokes about whose house the “boob fest” is going to be at. (All in lighthearted fun, the guys always avoid being around us all at once.) For reference the moms in the group are 26, 24, 24, and 21 and between us there are 6 kids. There’s also another 24 yo in our group that doesn’t have kids yet that says she is glad she has seen breastfeeding become so normal and plans to do it for her future kids. I think younger moms struggle with it more just due to not being exposed to it. For me I saw it as a challenge that I wanted to be able to say I had conquered, but really my daughter and I both got so much out of it that I can’t imagine not breastfeeding.

I tried breastfeeding our first for the first month and she just wasn’t efficient at it so I’d have to pump after each feeding session. It was taking forever and I got exhausted so I went to exclusive pumping for 8 months. I wanted to give it a try for the health benefits to the baby. She just loved the bottle more and it was faster for her. I will try again with our second and hopefully he or she will love to breastfeed!

I wonder if it relates some to social media. Honestly if I was a first time mom on this site I would be terrified. People tell horror stories about everything. They make natural child birth sound like an unattainable goal and breast feeding like running a marathon. When I had my first, 15 yrs ago, you just did it and if you had problems someone would help you. A friend, lactation consultant, the la leche league..... you figured it out, or you didn’t and you went to bottles minus the drama. I have exclusively breastfed 4 children for 12-18 mths each and still find myself second guessing my experience (which was very positive) when I read some posts. I begin thinking maybe in my mind it was easier than it actually was. I can’t image being barraged with all this information without being completely stressed out and discouraged before you even have your first contraction. It seems like for every encouraging post there are 10 posts that explain how impossibly difficult things will be. I’m not suggesting it’s easy, but it must be mentally exhausting going through a pregnancy expecting failure before you even try.

It could also be a cultural thing. I’ve known a lot of Moms who don’t want to be “tied” to baby for all that time. I personally love that bond with my children, but it does limit freedom and that may play a roll for some people too.

I was 19 when I was pregnant with my first, and I was just simply uncomfortable with the idea of it. I have very large breast(currently in a 38K, thanks pregnancy), like they were way larger than my son's head. I told them in the hospital that I was formula feeding and I didn't want a lactation consultant to bother me. But I had enough milk to feed every baby in town! I was leaking for WEEKS after. But this time I'm going to try and see how it goes.

I wanted to nurse because I believe in the health benefits to Mom and Baby as well as attachment benefits. Now having had two kids...my second had numerous health issues and couldn’t nurse...I can also say breast feeding was way easier and more convenient than the formula feeding. Really hope this little one is healthy and can nurse like my first! I attended la leche league as I had never seen anyone breastfeed or known anyone who did before I was pregnant. I also am a big fan of lactation consultants! I think so many new Moms put pressure on themselves that they’re supposed to intuitively know how to breastfeed and then give up when it doesn’t come naturally...I had to take numerous lessons and practice for weeks before me and little one figured it out.

I did it for so many reasons, to save $, bond with my child, lose weight, give my child the nutrients. I’m going to do it with my next one as well but it’s definitely harder than making a bottle of formula.

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